Pazzi Conspiracy

Lorenzo Goes South

He had already been in correspondence with Naples and knew he would at least receive a hearing. That didn't mean he was safe, not at all. Ferrante was famous for treachery and the temptation to hold Lorenzo might prove too much. For his part, Lorenzo was depending entirely on his charm and his diplomatic skills to keep himself safe and to save his city. He was still only twenty-nine years old.

From Pisa he took a boat, which met up with a fleet of Neapolitan galleys that bore him to Naples, arriving just before Christmas. There he was put up in apartments made up specially for him within the Medici bank there. He brought with him gifts and money, and these he used liberally. He soon was giving lavish entertainments and dazzling everyone around. For example, upon his arrival he bought the freedom of a hundred galley slaves. He gave dowries to impoverished girls and donated to charities.

Lorenzo had friends in Naples. One was Ferrante's second son, who had known Lorenzo since they were boys. Even more important was Ippolita Sforza, wife of the same Duke of Calabria who had invaded Tuscany. In addition to these was an older man, Diomede Carafa, another important family. It soon became evident that Lorenzo had been working on this project for many months, arranging everything, and that it was by no means the desperate last-ditch gamble as he had presented it to the Signoria. There was still a real element of risk, but Lorenzo was astute enough to know when to employ a bit of drama.